Holiday-Ready Gaming PCs

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Sometimes there’s just no better gift than a computerespecially around holiday time, when all sorts of great new games are being released, and some gamers become painfully aware of just how inadequate their current rigs are. And if they don’t have the time or the wherewithal to build a new system with everything else that’s going onsome years, the thought of wrapping presents alone has paralyzed me for weeksthen buying one is the way to go. But just because manufacturers are rolling out their latest models in anticipation of 2010 doesn’t mean there haven’t been a few terrific choices out there now. You just need to know how much money you have to spendand who you’re shopping for.

Take the AVADirect GT3 Core i7 Gaming System desktop, for example. Our $1,367.26 test model came equipped with an Intel Core i7 processor, 6GB of RAM, and an ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphics card for solid gaming performance for the priceall in a small-form-factor case with a built-in handle. It won’t be ideal for the hardest-core gamers out there, but it’s a good, decently powerful place to start. If expandability is really key for the gamer in your life, the $1,299 Velocity Micro Edge Z30 offers tremendous value for the amount of performance it provides, along with plenty of room to grow (and it won PCMag’s Editors’ Choice Award); the Falcon Northwest Talon (Core i7-860) costs about twice as much ($2,495 direct), but has been sensitively designed, inside and out, and has an SSD to juice up performance.

If you’re willing and able to splurge, the BFG Phobos ($3,450 direct) is one of 2009’s most stunning luxury desktops. It’s delivered and set up for you, and packs within its single chassis two separate PCs: the main one, and a smaller one (accessed with a seven-inch touchscreen) running embedded Linux that gives you instant access to the most common functions. There’s even a one-touch overclocking option, although the Phobos is fast enough that you probably won’t need it much. The downside? You can’t upgrade it yourself, let alone crack the case and see if the inside is as cool as the outside.

Gaming laptops are another story. To find one worth playing the newest games on, you’re going to have to spend a fair amount. The cheapest we’ve seen recently is the $1,899 Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q850, and because it’s got a mobile Core i7 processor in it, it’s certainly fast for its price. Not that either the Alienware M17x or the Falcon Northwest FragBook DRX has to worry in the speed department; these models give you all of the power (and none of the battery life) you could possibly want in a gaming notebook. The prices might drain your bank accountthe models we tested of each respectively ran $4,850 and $6,449but their cool looks and hot performance just might be worth it.

Ready to check out these gaming systems? Read their reviews on PCMag.com before making up your gift-givingor gift-gettinglist.

The Desktops

AVADirect GT3 Core i7 Gaming System $1,367.26 directThis system is made for nomad gamers who find themselves rolling from friend’s living rooms to hotel meeting rooms and back home again on a regular basis. It has a compact, semi-portable chassis, yet boasts a full-blown Core i7 quad-core processor and high-powered ATI Radeon HD graphics card.

BFG Phobos$3,450 directLike a high-powered sports car, the BFG Phobos is something you don’t build or service yourselfit something you take delivery of and then take for a spin. Designed for the performance enthusiast who simply no longer wants to get his hands dirty, it’s aimed at a pretty limited demographic, but the two computers housed within its huge chassis ensure that it’s significantly powerful.

Velocity Micro Edge Z30$1,299 directIf you know a gamer (or you are a gamer) that drools over the $5,000-plus systems but doesn’t currently have a load of cash to buy or build one, check this PC out. There’s even sufficient room for expandability should you want to add more components to it later.

Falcon Northwest Talon (Core i7-860)$2,495 directThe new Falcon Northwest Talon, based on Intel’s Core i7-860 CPU, has a new case design as well as the power needed to run high-end PC games, as well as room for future expandability. It’s on the expensive side, but it’s one of the faster performers we’ve seen.

The Laptops

Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q850$1,899 directThe Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q850 is a beast of a gaming laptop, the first out of the gates with a Core i7-820QM processor. And it’s fast.

Alienware M17x$4,850 directThe Alienware M17x is the complete mobile gaming package, with a super-fast mobile gaming processor, a powerful graphics card, and lots of RAM. Its fantastic all-metal design makes it the new benchmark of gaming laptop designs.

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